Essay Structure

Comparison or Contrast Essays

Purpose

Compare- What is similar? Contrast- What is different?

We use this manner of thinking all the time. Which college is better? Which car should I buy? Which product is a better deal?

Block Arrangement (five paragraphs)

I. Introduction in which you state your purpose, which is to discuss the differences or similarities between folklore in different cultures.

II. Culture 1A.  SettingB.  Characters  C.  Theme 

III. Culture 2A.  SettingB.  Characters  C.  Theme 

IV. Culture 3 A. Setting B. Characters C. Theme

V. Conclusion

One Format

Point-by-Point or Alternating Arrangement (five paragraphs)

I.

Introduction in which you state your purpose, which is to discuss the differences or similarities between folklore in different cultures.

II.

First difference (One element)A.  Culture 1B.  Culture 2

C. Culture 3

III.

Second difference (Another element)A.  Culture 1B.  Culture 2

C. Culture 3

IV.

Third difference (Yet another element)A.  Culture 1B.  Culture 2

C. Culture 3

V.

Conclusion

Another Option

Here is a list of comparison conjunctions you can use:

Short Conjunctions Longer Expressions

Similarly, Likewise, ...the same... ...the same as... ...also... ..., too. both

In the same way, X is similar to Y in that

(they)... X and Y are similar in that

(they)... Like X, Y [verb]... In like manner, One way in which X is

similar to Y is (that)... Another way in which X is

similar to Y is (that)...

Here are some contrast conjunctions that you can use:

Short Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions

However, In contrast, By contrast, ..., but ..., yet

On the other hand, even though +

[sentence] although + [sentence] whereas + [sentence] unlike + [sentence] while + [sentence] nevertheless,